Turtle Talk

The University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences invites applications for a newly-established tenure-track position (20% outreach/engagement, 30% teaching, 50% research) in Tribal Natural Resources.

In collaboration with Minnesota-based Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and Dakota tribes and potentially other North American tribes and indigenous groups, the successful candidate will develop a strong and impactful state- and regionally-based research program with national to international relevance. We seek candidates who are highly collaborative, have cross-cultural experience, and who employ integrative approaches to research and outreach. This faculty member must be committed to co-formulation of integrative and collaborative research and outreach agendas in partnership with tribal communities. The focus of the research program will be to advance the integration of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and western science systems. A successful candidate will have one or more focal areas of expertise in indigenous customs and knowledge, policy and law, treaty rights, management and co- management of fisheries and wildlife, sustainable forests, habitat protection and restoration, and ecology and conservation of indigenous aquatic and terrestrial biota. The successful candidate’s research will be pursued with a high level of engagement with tribal communities to develop lines of communication that can improve understanding of different ways of knowing. This faculty member will contribute to the academic programs of the college by teaching one undergraduate course every year, plus a graduate seminar every year. Courses envisioned relate to tribal natural resource perspectives and policies and on approaches for integrating TEK and natural resource science information. This faculty member will also be responsible for serving as an undergraduate faculty mentor and advising graduate students. The faculty member will be expected to participate in faculty governance and professional service, and to secure external funding to support research.

Academic Rank and Department Affiliation This is a tenure-track or tenured position; appointment will be at the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor, depending on experience and record of scholarship. The faculty member’s tenure-home and department affiliation will be in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology or the Department of Forest Resources, depending on the candidate’s expertise and interests.

Salary/Benefits This is a 12-month position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Benefits include employee health, dental, and faculty life/disability insurance, social security, faculty retirement and opportunities for professional development, including sabbatical and semester leave opportunities. Benefits are described at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/benefits/index.html.

Essential Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field.

• Demonstrated experience and strong interest in working with tribal communities on one or more of the focal natural resource areas described above.

• Demonstrated research experience in advancing the integration of TEK and western science systems.

• Demonstrated experience and interest in teaching.

• Ability to communicate effectively. Both orally and in writing.

• Record of scholarship, i.e., publications in area of natural resource expertise.

Preferred Academic Preparation and Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in natural resource co-management or the integration of TEK in natural resource management decision-making.

• Demonstrated leadership in addressing tribal natural resource issues.

• Experience interacting successfully with stakeholders with diverse cultural perspectives.

• Potential to initiate and sustain extramurally funded research.

• Track record of interacting creatively, collaboratively, and productively on interdisciplinary teams.

• Experience in field and/or case based research and outreach methodologies.

To Apply Submit cover letter, CV, and separate statements describing your vision for the position with respect to the following: teaching, research, and tribal community engagement (maximum of 2 pages each). Additionally, applicants will provide the names and contact information for three people willing to write letters of reference, upon request, not at the time of application. All applications must be submitted online at: https://humanresources.umn.edu/jobs. Click the “External Faculty and Staff Applicants” tab and enter 327413 in the Search Jobs box. Combine all parts of the application (i.e., letter, CV, statements) into a single document before uploading. Additional documents should be attached after application by accessing your “My Activities” page and uploading documents there.

For questions or inquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Kristen C. Nelson (nelso468@umn.edu), Chair of the Tribal Natural Resources Search Committee. Application review will begin on January 7, 2019. The position is open until filled. For questions about the application process, please contact Lori Loberg, CFANS Human Resources, at theis020@umn.edu.

The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from faculty of color, other underrepresented populations and women.

Background Check: Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Program Unit Description: The University of Minnesota is a comprehensive land-grant university, based in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Minnesota’s lakes, forests, prairies, wetlands and rivers are widely valued and the state is known for its progressive and innovative natural resource policies and programs. Natural resource departments at the University of Minnesota are within the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences in Saint Paul. Both Forest Resources and Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Departments host BS, MS, and PhD programs, support many nationally and internationally recognized research programs, and have a long tradition of public engagement and extension focused on Minnesota. Faculty and scientists utilize several outstate University centers including the 3,400 acre Cloquet Forestry Center, Hubachek Wilderness Research Center near Ely, and North Central Research and Outreach Center in Grand Rapids. The Department of Forest Resources (https://www.forestry.umn.edu/) is one of the oldest and most highly- regarded forestry programs in the country. Its mission is to inform and advance the science and management of forest and related natural resources. The department has 17 faculty and more than 45 full-time researchers, scientists, and postdocs representing a breadth of disciplines in the biological, physical, social, and managerial sciences. The Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (https://fwcb.cfans.umn.edu/) has 19 faculty and 35 full- time researchers, scientists and postdocs with broad expertise in free-ranging animals, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and the human dimensions of conservation. The mission of FWCB is to foster a high quality natural environment by contributing to the management, protection, and sustainable use of fisheries and wildlife resources. Natural resource faculty at the University of Minnesota have exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations across the institution, including with the American Indian Studies Program (https://cla.umn.edu/ais).

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.